Behind The Mic With Joe Mathieu: Government Seen As America's Biggest Problem
BOSTON (CBS) - Most people I talk with just want the government to function. They don't spend time obsessing over whose fault this is.
But depending on how this resolves it could have significant repercussions in the mid-term elections next year and that's why we keep seeing polls that point fingers.
The latest is from the AP, showing 62% of Americans blame the Republicans for the shut-down while about half say the president or Democrats in congress bear the responsibility.
Consistent with a divided electorate.
But let's be honest here. People in Washington have been playing the blame game since even before the shutdown began.
Think about that for a minute. Democrats and Republicans pointing fingers at each other weeks before most Americans even realized this shutdown might happen. Never mind the debt ceiling.
And that should tell us all something about what's motivating them - it's just as much about politics as it is principal.
And that's why fewer people seem to care about which party wins.
Consider a separate poll by Gallup that finds more people view the government itself as the greatest problem facing America. 33% chose the government over all other problems including the economy – the biggest percentage to do so dating back to the 1930s.
People are angry. And if this trend continues, every politician could be at risk, no matter their political party.
Follow Joe on Twitter @joemathieuwbz
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